Holder for sharpening razor blades



May 19, 1936. T, B MCDARWD 2,041,010

HOLDER FOR SHARPENING RAZOR BLADES Original Filed March 14, 1933 Patented May 19, 1936 UNITED STATES HOLDER FOR SHARPENING RAZOR BLADES T homas Bartlett McDiarmid, Melbourne,

Victoria, Australia Application March 14, 1933, Serial No. 660,712.

Renewed September 13, 1935.

March 19, 1932 3 Claims.

This invention has reference to improvements in and relating to holders for sharpening razor blades and the like, and is directed more particularly to a means for re-sharpening razor blades adapted for use with safety razors, so as to prolong the useful life of the blade.

It is recognized that blades for safety razors although comparatively cheap at the purchase pricepare over a lengthy period actually a very costly item, as a blade at present has to be discarded after very little use.

A method employed at present in sharpening razor blades consists in inserting the blade by hand into a glass of water and reciprocating the said blade to and fro to re-sharpen the cutting edges thereof.

Although this practice is satisfactory, it requires considerable skill on the part of the user, and while it may be successful in certain instances, other users having not the same skill do not obtain the result desired.

My invention therefore has for its object to provide a holder for the blade, such holder being of a shape that may be readily retained by the user, preferably in the manner of a finger piece, its particular shape being characterized in that it is substantially convex, whereby the blade will be set in use at a definite inclination to the curved edges of a glass or portion thereof to effectively re-sharpen the edges of the blade while inserted in the water and reciprocated in the usual manner across the surface of glass or a segment of glass.

This invention is characterized by the provision of a holder substantially convex and of dimensions substantially equivalent to a razor blade, said holder having means to retain the blade thereon, and if desired, means to provide a grip for the fingers of the user, whereby in operation, the cutting edges of the blade will be set in correct relationship or angle of bevel to a glass or segment of a glass disposed in water and on the reciprocation of the holder and blade taking place, the cutting edges assume the definite angle with the said glass necessary for re-sharpening purposes.

It is a feature of the invention that the convex holder is preferably used in conjunction with a segment of glass having a. concave surface across which the blade is reciprocated on the holder, the segment of glass being of lesser radii than the convex holder whereby the blade conforming to the shape of said holder has its cutting edges retained at a constant bevel or angle to the surface of glass in order to effect the sharpening thereof.

Now in order that the invention may be more readily understood reference will now be made to the accompanying drawing in which:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a holder for In Australia razor blades constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a section of the holder with a blade attached. Figure 3 is an underside plan of the holder.

Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the holder with the blade during the sharpening operation.

According to one form of carrying my invention into practical effect, I provide a member or holder 5 substantially rectangular in outline but with rounded edges and of a convex shape. This member 5 is formed to correspond in shape with the outlines of a standard razor blade for use with safety razors, said holder 5 being'formed on the underside 5a with spaced lugs or projections 6 to engage with the usual retaining slots or holes I in the blade 8 in the manner illustrated in Figure 2.

,These lugs or projections 6 are of suflicient depth to extend through the holes I on the blade whereby during operation of the holder, the said lugs 6 impinge on the curved surface'of the glass or segment which causes the razor blade to con form to the shape of said holder in order to bring the cutting edges of the blade into the required angle againstthe curved glass or segment.

As the steel in the said blades of the class described is usually of the ribbon type they read-- ily conform to the shape of the holder 5 forthe reason that the lugs 01' projections 6 on the holder bear against the curved surface of the glass.

The convex shape of the holder 5 ensures that an inclination i's effected to the blade 8, while it is retained on the said holder 5,'an'd the inclination is such that the cutting edges 9 of the blade are then set at the required angle or bevel to the edges of a glass or glass segment ID on to which water may be poured or allowed to drip.

It is preferred in my invention to use the segment of glass l0 which may be of plain, corrugated, fiuted or other uneven surface in combination with the holder 5 described, whereby the segment of glass I0 may, if desired, be disposed in a basin of water and then the blade 8 secured to the holder 5 and reciprocated in the usual manner against the curved surface of the segment of glass to effect the sharpening thereof, and as the lugs or projections 6 of the holder impinge constantly on the curved surface of the glass segment a constant pressure is exerted on the blade I8 while the holder is reciprocated as a finger piece.

If desired, the upper surface of the holder 5 may be formed with a knob to receive the finger of the user, but it is preferred that a shaped, concave recess l2 suitably milled be provided in the said holder 5 to receive the finger of the user so that the said holder 5 may be gripped or held for operation.

In operation the blade 8 is placed in positio on the convex undersurface of the holder 5 which is reversed to bring the said blade into contact with thezwet concavesurfacettib of .the glass segment III, while the lugs or projections 6 impinge on said surface 51) which being of lesser radii tlran the convex holder ensures thatrthe cuttin redges a of the b1ade8 maintain a constaritinclinationnn bevel to the rounded and wet surface of the glas during the reciprocationof thezholder ii" Q The blade initiallyrlies flat but on pressure 7 being applied by the finger on the holder, the

said blade 8 conforms to the convex shape ofsaid holder which brings the cutting'edges into "co incidence with the curved surface of the glass,

(see Figure 4) and the holder 5 is then recipro- :cated by afingerof the 'user impinging on the inilledrecess l2, the reciprocation causing .the

,cutting edgesof theblade to be continuously rubbed' at the desired angle'or bevel on the wet glass surface and the action is continued on one side of :the'bladeuntilan even'cutting surface is a achievedtafter which-the blade is reversedon the holder Sand-again reciprocated untilasatisfactor-y v-conditionof sharpness exists in vrelation to both sides of the said blade. r

j Theholder 5 is therefore .readily manipulated I as;a finger-apiece to performthe sharpening oper'aitionsdeseribed while the-blade readily conforms to its :shape and istretained -thereon bymeans :of the: spaced lugsor projectionsii which engage or constantly-impingeon theaglass surface as illustrated.

B utilizing the holder 5 the blade lmay .be

1 expeditiously .sharpened on the segment of glass cto suitablywmoistened :as described but it will readily-understod that theholdermay be used in conjunction with erg-lass receptacle containing water; j 7

:I- do notwish to confine fimyself .to the hereindescribedidetails of construction "but desire it to be understood that various improvements and modifications ''may be embodied without depart- V ing iromrthesspiritand .scope ofzthednvention.

in the upper surface of said member so that it can be used asa fingerpiecaa plurality of spaced lugs on the blade engaging surface to register with and extend through slots in the razor blade tCF hOld the blade in position and to cause said blade, when it abuts the curved surface of a "smooth vitreous segment and'when downward pressureis applied against the upper surface of :said'imember, to conform to the shape of said membeiywith both cutting edges thereof at a .ontits.bIadeQengagingsurface, a central milled recessin the upper surfaceof said member so that it can: be ,used as a finger ,piece, a plurality of spaced lugs on the blade engaging .,surface to register with and extend through slots in the razor blade tohold the blade in position and to .causesaidblade, whenitabutstheicurved surface 7 of a smooth vitreous segment and whendown- Ward ,pressure is applied against the upper surface of said member, to conformto' the shape of said member, with both cutting-edgesthereof at a constant angle to the curved surface of said witreoussegment. r

3. Meansfor sharpening razor blades, comprising a metallic member corresponding in voutline to the shape of a safety razor blade, .the'said member being curved .in cross section-and convex on its blade-engaging surface, a "milled recess in the upper surface-of said member so-thatit can be used as a finger piece,a plura1ity-.of spaced .lugson-the blade engaging surface to register 'with andkiextend throughslots in the razorblade to @hold the :blade' in position and'to cause said blade, when it abuts the curved surface of a smooth vitreous segment and when downward pressureis' applied against the upper surface of said member, "to conform to the shape of said member, :"and a 'curved smooth v'itreous' segment,

' bothcutting edges of the raz or blade being'ma'in- ,tained by'said member at a constant angle to'the curved surfaceof the said vitreous segment for reciprocation thereagainst, V v

THOMAS BARTLETT MCDIARMID, 

